Swazi king's party provokes controversy

Tens of thousands of people will gather in Swaziland's Valley of Heaven
tomorrow to fete Africa's last absolute monarch.

By Sebastien Berger in the Valley of Heaven

4:51PM BST 05 Sep 2008

There will be parades, traditional dances, fireworks and feasting to honour king Mswati III, the Sherborne-educated ruler who has 13 wives and is at the apex of a still highly traditional society – he appoints the prime minister and cabinet, and a general election will take place later this month without the benefit of political parties.

But the extravagance of the hilly, landlocked country's "40/40" celebrations, which mark the anniversary of independence from Britain as well as the monarch's birthday, has provoked unprecedented anger in a country where respect is the norm.

Officially the budget for the event is around pounds 1.5 million, but the true cost appears to be vastly more.

The dignitaries will be ferried to a stadium close to the royal family's kraal in a fleet of 20 newly-bought BMW 750s – and while officials say some of the vehicles will be auctioned off afterwards, the same shipment reportedly included 18 BMW X5s for the royal family's own use.

The cakes for the occasion cost pounds 7,000, and nine of the king's 13 wives chartered a jet for a week-long preparatory shopping trip to Dubai and possibly other unconfirmed destinations.

In the run-up to the party Swaziland's usually marginalised opposition mounted a major demonstration in the capital Mbabane, where two small bombs exploded and looters had to be dispersed by riot police using water-cannon.

"I have nothing to celebrate because the only people that can celebrate are the few, the minority within the royal family," said Mario Masuku, president of the People's United Democratic Movement.

"The king has a right to celebrate his individual birthday like anybody, but as a country to say we have something to celebrate is a misnomer. While the invited guests are eating sumptuous meals they must know they are eating and drinking the blood of the poor Swazis." While impressive highways link the capital Mbabane to the South African border and the other main centre, Manzini, Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence rate and the lowest life expectancy in the entire world. Most of its people live in dire poverty, relying on subsistence agriculture to survive.

Cebile Dlamini, national co-ordinator of Swaziland Positive Living for Life (Swapol), a women's rights organisation which works with those carrying HIV, said: "The health system is collapsing.

"If we strengthened our health system to responded to the needs of the people it would be a better use of the money.

"The government doesn't have its priorities straight. The priority is spending on the royal family." But while educated intellectuals and urban workers are at the forefront of dissent, and insist that change must come, most Swazis still keep the monarchy in the highest regard.

Prince Musi Dlamini, a nephew of the king and a former schoolmate of his, said that he did not know the total cost of the 40/40 events, but whatever the price, it was worthwhile.

"It means a lot for the Swazi people," he said. "We are very happy and we are happy to celebrate. In your house if you want to make a party, yes, we do spend. 95 per cent of the Swazi people asked that we celebrate this thing and parliament agreed.

"You can't say this thing is wrong," he added, saying the protestors were "embarrassing the King. If [they think] this is wrong they must go to another country." Repeated telephone calls to the government spokesman seeking comment were not returned.

Percy Simelane, the chief government spokesman, said he expected the budget for the event to be slightly exceeded, but not to the fivefold extent alleged by some critics.

“It’s very important for us to celebrate this occasion and the achievements we have had these last 40 years,” he said. “We have safeguarded our sovereignty and become one of the most peaceful countries in the world. The majority of Swazis feel very happy.”

Any criticism was down to political motives, he said, adding that royal family had an annual allocation in the budget and the queens’ shopping trip was a private matter for them.